Hartzell Spence

Who was Hartzell Spence?

John Hartzell Spence was an American writer and founding editor of Yank, the Army Weekly, a weekly magazine published by the United States military during World War II. He is credited with coining the term "pinup".

Born in Marion, Iowa, he studied journalism at the University of Iowa graduating in 1930. In 1930, he started working with the United Press until World War II when he became editor of Yank.

After World War II, he retired to his farm "Gaston Hall" near Orange, Virginia. His book about his farming adventures there, "Happily Ever After" was published in 1949. Also in 1949, he became one of the original stockholders in WJMA Radio in Orange, Virginia.

He wrote the memoir One Foot in Heaven which was made into a 1941 film. He also wrote the sequel, Get Thee Behind Me.